Page 104 of Jagger

He stormed away, slamming his door and revving the engine.

After he’d sped out of the parking lot, I slowly turned my head toward her. “The mayor? How in God’s name would you know that?”

Bella sat back in her seat, smoothing down her dress. “Well, I don’t.”

“What do you mean you don’t?”

“I have no clue if you have a mayor so I couldn’t know if the position is held by a man or a woman.”

I sucked in my breath. “You were bluffing?”

She shrugged and blew me a kiss. “I’m a damn good actress when I need to be.”

Just feeling free and alive enough to wrap my hand around the back of her neck, jerking her toward me reminded me of something Shephard had told me.

That I deserved to live.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you,” I told her in a gruff voice before crushing my lips over hers.

She gently placed both hands against my chest, arching her back as I plunged my tongue inside. Just like before, I couldn’t seem to get enough of her, savoring every tiny lick of her tongue.

After easing back, I shook my head. “You need discipline in your life.”

“I guess you think you’re going to provide that as well.”

“You bet.” I laughed and shifted the gear, heading out onto the road. Forced to adjust the rearview mirror, I glanced quickly at the road behind us.

The sheriff was parked on the other side of the road.

Watching.

Waiting.

Whatever trouble he intended on bringing wouldn’t be directed toward me alone.

He’d now placed the woman I cared about in the bullseye.

Maybe he’d need to learn a hard lesson about manners.

CHAPTER 29

Bella

Exhaustion and joy.

Was it possible to experience both at one time?

That was exactly the way I felt on this beautiful morning. Being tired was worth it. I felt like Jagger and I had gotten closer.

Nightmares.

Jagger had experienced another one and his ranting had awakened me. For all his worry that he’d display violence, the most I’d seen was tossing the books out of frustration.

He’d allowed me to talk to him and to listen. He’d mentioned his captivity and the months he’d endured, including over the Christmas holiday. He’d also told me the only soul he’d told had been his dad. It would seem his father had also been taken a prisoner of war, although for a much shorter timeframe.

What he hadn’t mentioned was anything regarding what Poppy had told me and I’d decided not to ask. Not only would it breakthe building trust between us, but I had a feeling doing so would push him back into a deeper level of darkness and I wouldn’t be able to drag him back into the light.

The secret was churning in my stomach, but I was determined to let him tell me when he was ready.

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